His tone is constant throughout our discussion. Bill recognizes that slow progress is being made, but he is hesitant to declare any victories in the struggle for racial equality. He makes note of the current political situation in the predominantly black state of Bahia in Northeastern Brazil.

"Black people in Bahia are today still fighting for rights. However, those who fight for rights are generally the minority, as was the case with African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In Salvador [the capital of Bahia], blacks make up more than 80% of the city's population. Their struggle should not be one for rights but rather one for power,"� he said.